2023 MASTER BUILDER AWARDS
Commercial or Public Sector Project national winner – Stonewood Builders Ltd
Project overview The Hadspen Roman Villa was discovered in
wooden shutters and timber detailing on the roof; and
on one side and 150mm of stone on the other. As the Roman villa is a visitor’s attraction, it needed to meet safety and accessibility regulations. The museum’s 48m glass façade presented another major challenge. Frameless glass bonded with structural silicone and glass spacer bar units (specially manufactured at 4.9m long, yet only 15mm by 25mm in section) produced an impressive result. Two layers of insulation between the façade and exterior create an airtight seal. High-performance solar control glass was used along with photovoltaic panels on the roof of the building, making it nearly zero carbon operationally. From the judges "Outstanding project that shines in each of the marking criteria." "The quality looks great and the client's expectations have been met. It reflects the confidence the contractor had in taking on this project." "The contractor has demonstrated exemplary skills, a willingness to learn and a remarkable eye for
The team showed meticulous attention to historical details
1832 in Somerset. During excavations from 1968- 1970, structural remains, pottery, coins and part of a mosaic floor were found. In 2015, further excavations showed that the villa had been enlarged between the 3 rd and the 5 th centuries AD. The client, Hadspen Estate, wanted to build a full-size replica of a Roman villa using traditional crafts, techniques and materials. Additionally, the site was to have a contemporary Roman Villa Museum to display archaeological findings and provide a stark contrast with the replica villa – which is visible through the museum’s glass façade. Project highlights and outstanding features It was essential that the details be accurate, so meticulous research was required to source authentic materials and replicate traditional building techniques. Notable features of the villa include: detailed finishes such as rounded corners of lime plaster, thick lead-lined spouts into barrels, interiors with sconces for oil lamps, hand-forged ironmongery,
the floor of the bath house block and the plunge pool in the traditional caldarium, which are heated by a hypocaust – a central, underfloor heating system using tunnels with hot air heated by a fire. Outstanding features of the museum include: the steel-framed museum with a fully glazed 48m façade offers unobstructed views of the Roman villa; premium finishes such as vaulted oak acoustic ceilings, full-height glazed sliding doors and polished floors; and glass bridge and balustrade over the original ruins. Challenges overcome The bath house block and its hypocaust were the biggest challenges. A log fire burns beneath a 1.2m stack of terracotta tiles under the bathroom block floor. The central heating system or hypocaust uses thermal mass to maintain a steady heat. Warm air passes through handmade clay flue liners (and back-up steel flues), which rise through the walls to radiate heat through lime plaster
A view of the villa from the steel-framed museum
The Hadspen Roman Villa is located in Somerset
detail. Extraordinary is definitely the right word to describe it."
Commercial or Public Sector Project national sponsored by
The replica Roman villa is open to the public
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www.fmb.org.uk
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